You officially have only 20 days left to comply with the version HIPAA 5010 standard. But even though HHS’ Office of E-Health Standards and Services, which enforces HIPAA compliance, delayed the HIPAA 5010 enforcement date to March 31, 2012 it’s still unclear as to whether payers, namely CMS will handle 4010 claims come Jan. 1, 2012.
CMS is currently working on guidance regarding how claims will be handled after the New Year, but a release date hasn’t been determined, according to Part B News conversations with CMS officials.
Important: As reported in our Dec. 5 issue, you must work diligently to be able to send claims via 5010 by Jan. 1 or soon thereafter (PBN 12/5/11). Payers, including CMS are not obligated to accept claims in the old 4010 standard or incomplete 5010 claims up until April 1, 2012.
TIP: Your best bet is to contact your Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and private payers and ask whether or not they will accept non-compliant claims, those sent in 4010 or in 5010 but without all of the required information, and for how long, experts say.
Be sure to stay tuned to www.partbnews.com for any HIPAA 5010-related updates.